Chapter 1 Veronica's Return

The Weston family, Cloudhaven's wealthiest, was making headlines. They were bringing back their heiress, who had been sent to a poor village eighteen years ago. The news shocked the upper class in the city, stirring up quite a buzz.

People still remembered how the Weston family had told everyone that Veronica Weston was the cause of her mother's death, blaming her for the family's misfortune, claiming that was why they had sent Veronica away all those years ago.

Now, when people spoke of the Weston family's heiresses, they would always think of Chloe and Grace Weston, forgetting about Veronica.

There was plenty of speculation about whether Veronica's return had anything to do with the Weston family's upcoming marriage alliance with the Harrington family from Northvare. The rumors were flying, and everyone waited for the Weston family to make a fool of themselves.

Meanwhile, Veronica was far away, in a small town, lounging in front of a little house. She sat in a rocking chair under a peach tree, sipping iced cola, while watching the trainees practice their combat skills. She looked utterly relaxed.

Veronica let out a satisfied burp, casually tossing the bottle. It landed perfectly in the trash can, about thirty feet away.

"Ms. Weston, that's amazing," someone called out.

"Ms. Weston, you're incredible," another person praised.

Smiling at the constant compliments, Veronica chuckled and sat up. Her beauty was a mix of innocence and allure, with just the right touch of seduction. Her posture was lazy, like a content cat.

She squinted at the group, her cherry lips curling into a smile. "Do you think flattering me will earn you a break?" she teased.

The group chuckled awkwardly.

Veronica smirked, "You smart pants."

"Ms. Weston, you're the best," someone said.

"You're so beautiful and kind-hearted," another chimed in.

Veronica burped again and waved them off. After washing her hands, she turned and headed inside.

Inside the house, a kind-looking middle-aged man named Nathaniel Yates sat on a stool. He slowly opened his eyes at the sound of Veronica's footsteps.

Seeing her still dressed in her plain tracksuit, Nathaniel shook his head helplessly, saying, "Didn't the Weston family send you some beautiful new dresses the other day? Ronie, why haven't you changed yet? They'll be here soon."

Veronica chuckled, sitting down and picking up some fruit from the table to take a bite, "Nathaniel, you've raised me for over ten years. Are you really going to let me wear someone else's hand-me-downs?"

Those clothes were all from Chloe, the ones she no longer wanted. Even if they were brand new, Veronica wouldn't wear them.

Nathaniel gave Veronica a helpless glance. She was smiling brightly, but her eyes were filled with a mischievous glint.

He sighed and said, "You've always been so strong-willed. Like I said before, if you can get along with the Weston family, settle down with them. If not, come back. I can still support you."

Veronica had come to this village when she was only two years old. Eighteen years had passed, and now she was twenty.

She stuck out her tongue playfully. "I know. You're crazy rich. For a wealthy guy like you, money does grow on trees."

Nathaniel rubbed his forehead. "Enough with the teasing."

Veronica smiled sweetly, thinking to herself, 'I won't return until I've turned the Weston family upside down.'

*****

When Veronica was getting ready for lunch, the car to pick her up arrived. She took her time finishing her meal and then slung her little treasure trove of a handbag over her shoulder.

One of the new trainees from Horizon Taekwondo helped load her massive suitcase into the trunk. The thing was nearly as tall as she was.

The driver, Flynn Booth, glanced at the tacky-looking suitcase, then at Veronica in her dull clothes. A trace of disdain flickered in his eyes.

Veronica curled her lips into a smirk, turning to wave at the men of Horizon Taekwondo near the door. "When I make my fortune, I'll take you all to the big city to enjoy the high life."

Flynn's gaze grew more contemptuous. "Ms. Weston, please get in the car. It's still a long way to go."

Veronica glanced at Flynn. "The Weston family is the wealthiest in Cloudhaven, right?"

Flynn straightened his back, puffing up with pride.

Veronica sneered, "Then why don't they even have a helicopter? Aren't we in a hurry?"

Flynn stared at her in disbelief, thinking, 'She's just a country bumpkin. How can she complain about the Weston family not having a helicopter?'

Veronica waved her hand. "Let's go. It's a long drive." She climbed into the car.

The ride was silent, and soon nightfall descended.

*****

At Weston Villa in Cloudhaven, Chloe sat on the couch, hugging a pillow and gazing out at the pouring rain, snickering, "Mom, do you think that half-sister of mine is almost here?"

Sitting on the nearby sofa, Linda Weston looked up at the rain outside and smiled, "Who knows? The weather's been a bit cold lately. Sweetie, get some sleep."

Chloe nodded. "Okay, Mom. I'll go to bed soon."

Linda stood up. "Alright. I'm going to sleep too."

They linked arms as they made their way upstairs. Before they did, Linda reminded the housekeeper to lock the doors and go to bed early.

After eleven hours of continuous driving, the SUV finally reached Weston Villa at just past 11 PM. The expected darkness greeted them.

Veronica thought, 'I wonder if the Weston family's out of money for the electricity bill. Even the lights in the yard are off.'

Flynn parked the car in the garage and opened the trunk to grab Veronica's luggage. He had expected the suitcase to be light and easy to handle, but it almost snapped his wrist with its weight.

"What are you doing?" Veronica spoke up.

Flynn looked up. "Ms. Weston, you're home. I was just trying to take your stuff out of the car for you." Though he wasn't fond of Veronica and her plain outfit, he was still trying to do his job well.

Veronica raised an eyebrow and glanced at the dark villa. "Are you sure I can get inside?"

Flynn fell silent, looking somewhat embarrassed. "I'll go ring the doorbell for you."

"Okay. But I think you're wasting your time," Veronica said, folding her arms and watching him jog over to ring the bell.

Moments later, Flynn returned, looking flustered. "Sorry, Ms. Weston. It seems Mrs. Weston and your sisters are asleep."

"Fine," Veronica replied, nodding seriously. "If my stepmother didn't take so many sleeping pills, she wouldn't be asleep like this."

Flynn was at a loss for words. He was beginning to have a hard time dealing with this heiress, who looked so shabby but had such a sharp tongue.

Raising her eyebrows, Veronica glanced at Flynn. "What are you standing there for? Take me to the most expensive hotel in Cloudhaven."

She had other matters to attend to and didn't have time to deal with these childish games from the people who had turned her away.

Flynn was taken aback and glanced nervously at the garage.

Veronica narrowed her eyes. "You're not going to tell me I have to stay in the garage, are you?"

Seeing the smile on Veronica's face, Flynn almost nodded but didn't dare do that. He had just received a message from the butler saying Veronica should stay in the garage. But Flynn didn't have the guts to say it out loud.

Veronica seemed quite easygoing. "Alright. Sleeping in the garage isn't a problem. But I have a bad habit of smashing stuff around when I sleep. I wonder if anything would happen to these luxury cars when I'm asleep."

She glanced around, picked up a brick from the corner, and weighed it in her hand. "Well, this could make a great pillow, and also—"

Flynn quickly interrupted, "Ms. Weston, I'll take you to a hotel. We're leaving now." He started the car again and drove toward the most expensive hotel in Cloudhaven.

It wasn't that Flynn didn't want to brush Veronica off; he simply didn't dare. He thought, 'Who knows what kind of outrageous thing this hellion might do next?'

*****

At the 28th floor of Royale International Hotel, Veronica found her room. She swiped the key card and opened the door. But before she could even turn on the lights, a large figure pressed against her.

A strong, muscular arm crossed over her neck, and a hoarse, deep voice warned, "Don't make a sound."

Chapter 2 Saving Him

The strong smell of blood flooded Veronica's nostrils. She frowned, feeling the warm, damp touch of the man's body against her waist.

In the darkness, Veronica couldn't make out his face. But based on her instincts, she could tell he was tall, broad, and badly injured.

The feeling of his arm draped across her neck wasn't pleasant, not to mention that most of his body weight was pressing down on her.

Just as Veronica was about to make a move, she heard the sound of hurried footsteps outside the door, and from the sound of them, it was clear there were quite a few people.

The man in front of her was already breathing more shallowly than before. Veronica furrowed her brows ever so slightly, thinking, 'This is such a hassle.' She hated hassles.

The door to the hotel room was being knocked heavily, as though someone was trying to break it down. After a few minutes, the door was finally opened.

Behind it stood Veronica, dressed in a bathrobe, her petite figure radiating the steam from her shower. She lazily leaned against the doorframe and questioned, "What's the matter?"

The man who had knocked froze, his gaze lingering on Veronica. One of the men in a hotel uniform asked, "Hello, Ms. Weston. Is there anything unusual going on in your room?"

"Unusual?" Veronica raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you see, an escaped convict injured one of our guests in the presidential suite and managed to escape," he spoke while glancing inside, clearly trying to confirm whether there was anyone else inside.

Veronica pondered, 'An escaped convict?' She smiled, shifting slightly to one side, "Would you like to come in and search?"

She turned and walked back into the room, showing no intention of stopping these people from entering.

The hotel staff member leading the group knew Veronica's identity and didn't dare to be too forward. But he wasn't willing to leave without checking, so he left the others outside and entered with an apologetic smile.

Veronica shot him a glance before stepping into the bathroom. "Don't mess up my things. Once you're done searching, lock the door on your way out."

The bathroom door slammed shut behind her, and the staff member stared at it, hesitating. He hadn't searched that room yet.

But then he reconsidered, thinking, 'Ms. Weston has no reason to help an escaped convict. After all, she's just a girl. There's no way she'd have the guts to stay in the same room with a cold-blooded, murderous fugitive.'

The sound of the bathroom faucet running filled the air. Amid the steady flow of water, Veronica heard the footsteps of the staff leaving the room and the sound of the door being locked.

Only then did she walk over to the bathtub and reach in to pull the man out from where he lay, hidden beneath the rose petals that filled the tub.

The man's face was pale, his eyes tightly closed, and his tightly shut lips were just as pasty. Veronica's hand gripped his arm, which was burning hot, yet his body trembled uncontrollably. He was running a high fever, but he didn't utter a sound.

When Veronica had placed him in the bathtub earlier, he had still been conscious. Without a word, he had climbed in, fully aware that soaking in water could be life-threatening. But before a greater danger approached, he had chosen the former without hesitation.

Veronica thought of her dog, Bear, whom she had once cared for. That was the main reason she had decided to help this man.

Raymond Harrington was freezing. A boundless chill swept through him, colder than when he had been thrown into an icy lake as a child at an orphanage.

He felt like he could hear the merciless, mocking laughter of those people in his ears. He clenched his teeth, his mouth filled with a metallic taste.

"Relax. You can't take the medicine if you keep your teeth clenched like that," Veronica said.

She frowned, watching Raymond lying on the bed with his teeth clenched tightly. She couldn't tell if he was having a nightmare or if he was in unbearable pain.

Veronica glanced at the medicine in her hand, now cold. Without hesitation, she reached for one of the acupuncture needles on the side and poked it at the corner of his mouth.

The sharp, tingling sensation made Raymond stop gritting his teeth, and Veronica immediately poured the entire cup of medicine down his throat.

"You're such a handful, much worse than Bear," she complained.

After finally getting the medicine into Raymond, Veronica threw the blood-stained clothes into the trash bag, packed it up, washed up, and changed into clean clothes. She then collapsed onto the sofa by the window and fell asleep.

Worried that Raymond might still have a high fever in the middle of the night, Veronica woke up just before dawn. She groggily got up with her eyes closed, touched his forehead, and found that his fever had subsided. Then she went back to sleep.

*****

As the morning sun bathed the entire city, Veronica slept soundly on the sofa in the hotel suite, with the heavy curtains blocking the sunlight. On the bed, Raymond, the injured man, was the first to wake, disturbed by the urgent need to relieve himself.

He opened his eyes and found himself in an unfamiliar place. A flash of cold, murderous intent crossed his gaze, and instinctively, he tried to sit up. However, when he moved, the fresh bandage on his waist pulled, and the pain made him frown.

Fragments of last night's events flashed in his mind. He remembered he'd been set up and severely injured, fleeing to an empty hotel room where he met a woman. Thinking of her, he looked around, seeing Veronica curled up on the sofa by the window.

The thin floral blanket was bunched up around her, and she had wrapped herself in it, holding it close.

Veronica's long hair, scattered and messy, draped over her cheeks, resting on the blanket. Her face, partially visible through her hair, looked beautiful in the sunlight. Raymond's gaze darkened slightly.

"If you keep staring, I'll start charging," Veronica spoke in a sweet, soft voice. It was still laced with sleepiness, like a gentle breeze caressing the mountains in spring—tender, dreamy, and just as irresistible as a cat playfully scratching at one's heart.

Raymond moved slightly, preparing to get up.

"Do you want your waist to recover or not?" Veronica's voice, still carrying the innocence of youth, sounded again, causing Raymond to pause.

On the sofa, Veronica lazily sat up, the floral blanket still draped over her. She ran her fingers through her messy, long hair, tilting her head as she looked at Raymond.

The morning sunlight was warm. A beam of light slipped through the crack in the curtains, falling perfectly on the sofa, enveloping the petite figure of Veronica in a golden halo.

Her eyes, focused on Raymond, were clear and bright, without a hint of cloudiness. They shone even more brightly than the morning sun.

A strange feeling spread in Raymond's chest, and he found it deeply unsettling. He didn't like things he couldn't control. His expression remained cold, his eyes icy as he stared at Veronica. His voice was just as frigid as his gaze. "Who are you?"

Veronica was left speechless.

*****

At Weston Villa, the atmosphere at the dining table between Linda and her daughter, Chloe, was tense.

Chloe was fuming, yelling, "This is so infuriating. That bumpkin actually dared to stay at a hotel? And at Royale International Hotel, no less? That's a five-star hotel. Does she really think she deserves to be there with her status?"

Chloe thought, 'Last night, we purposely closed the door to teach that hillbilly Veronica a lesson. I can't believe that she'd dare go to a hotel.'

Linda took a sip of her red wine and smiled, speaking softly, "Sweetheart, have you forgotten what I've always taught you? Don't go around calling her a bumpkin. She's your sister."

Chloe scoffed, "Mom, how could a bumpkin from a poor village like her possibly be my sister? Just thinking about how tacky and plain she must look makes me want to scream. And now you want me to treat her like my sister?

"Also, where did that hick get the money to stay at a hotel? Did she use our family's money? That's our money, Mom. It's ours."

Chapter 3 The Reward

Just the thought of having to live under the same roof as Veronica, the bumpkin in Chloe's eyes, made Chloe feel disgusted.

Especially when she thought about how Veronica might one day share in the Weston family fortune, Chloe felt a burning desire to send Veronica back to the village right then and there.

Linda's expression turned slightly stern as she glanced around at the servants with their heads bowed, her tone sharp. "Chloe, I've told you before. Don't be so rude."

Chloe pouted. "Mom?"

"Chloe, Mom's doing this for your own good," a syrupy voice interrupted, and a girl, looking about the same age as Chloe and bearing a striking resemblance to her, walked in from outside. It was Grace, Chloe's full-blooded younger sister.

"Mom, I'm home," Grace said as she walked up and kissed Linda on the cheek.

Chloe snorted, "Such a show-off."

Grace didn't respond. Shooting a sharp look at Chloe, Linda said, "Grace, why are you back so early? Have you had breakfast? Do you want to go upstairs and rest?"

Grace shook her head sweetly. "No, Mom. I'm not tired. I'll go upstairs, get changed, and go with you and Chloe to the hotel to pick up Veronica."

Linda's two daughters were complete opposites. Chloe was more like David Weston, simple-minded and straightforward. Grace, on the other hand, had inherited Linda's cunning and calculating nature.

Though Grace and Chloe were only a year apart in age, Grace behaved with the maturity of someone much older than Chloe.

But despite everything, Linda spoiled Chloe a bit more, and Grace kept her jealousy hidden deep inside, never letting it show.

*****

Far away at the hotel, Veronica had no idea what the Westons were scheming, and she didn't care to know.

Veronica set the breakfast sent by the hotel staff in front of Raymond, then opened her suitcase and began pulling out packages of herbs, each neatly separated.

These were the herbs she had brought from the village for her clients. She had already received deposits, and she needed to deliver them today.

Raymond, sitting on the bed, gave Veronica a sidelong glance, clearly noticing her actions. "You're broke." What he said wasn't a question; it was a statement.

Veronica turned around, a bit confused, muttering, "What?" She thought to herself, 'What makes him think I'm broke?'

Raymond elegantly picked up a water glass and took a sip, speaking slowly, "As a reward for saving me last night, you can make one request."

Veronica blinked, momentarily confused by why an injured guy like him would make such a statement to the person who saved him. She frowned, considering the possibility that Raymond's injury wasn't just to his waist but also to his head.

Veronica quickly packed away her herbs, then remembered the goblets she had bought a few days ago at the market. She put them in her bag, stood up, and was about to leave.

"Have you made up your mind?" Raymond stopped her.

Veronica furrowed her brows. 'Sure enough, saving people brings nothing but trouble,' she thought. She looked up at his face, still handsome despite the stern expression.

She then flashed a sweet and innocent smile. "Why don't you repay me with yourself?"

Raymond's expression shifted slightly, his gaze falling back on Veronica. Her eyes were clear, filled with amusement.

He began, "I..." He then swallowed hard, but before he could say anything, Veronica waved and left.

Her voice echoed from the door as she said, "Don't get the wrong idea. I only saved you because you reminded me of my dog, Bear. By the way, make sure to lock the door when you leave."

Veronica had barely stepped out of the hotel when Linda, with Chloe and Grace, entered the hotel lobby. Chloe, looking displeased, walked up to the front desk and demanded, "Call Veronica Weston and tell her to come the hell down."

Grace, following right behind Chloe, chimed in, "Chloe, don't be so rude."

Grace then flashed a sweet smile at the receptionists. "Ladies, could you please call our sister and ask her to come see us? She checked in here last night without telling us, and our whole family is worried about her."

Chloe shot a sidelong glance at Grace, feeling the urge to snap for Grace's pretentious words.

Linda, who had been following behind them, nodded in satisfaction. She caught sight of a familiar figure in the corner of her eye, and immediately, a look of self-reproach appeared on her face.

She muttered, "It's all my fault. I had meetings all day yesterday. I went to bed early last night and I couldn't open the door for Veronica in time.

"That's why she ended up staying at the hotel. She must be pretty upset. I've failed your father."

Seeing that Linda was on the verge of tears, Grace quickly hugged her, comforting her, "Mom, this isn't your fault. Once we explain everything to Veronica, she'll understand."

Linda covered her face. "No matter what, it's still my fault."

The figure in the corner, listening to Linda and Grace, turned and walked away.

If Veronica had seen the performance from Linda and her two daughters, she would have clapped her hands and cheered them on. Unfortunately, Veronica was too busy to pay attention to them at the moment.

*****

On Cloudhaven's famous antique street, just behind the archway at the entrance, a client was earnestly trying to sell his stuff to the manager at a shop called Fortune Antiques.

The man spoke with sincerity, "Sir, please take a look. This is an antique Baccarat crystal goblet. Look at the material, the color, and the pattern—this is truly a piece of antique Baccarat crystal.

"It's a treasure passed down through my family for generations. If I weren't in urgent need of money, I would never dream of selling it."

Leonard Hastings, wearing reading glasses, held a magnifying glass and carefully examined the crystal goblet in front of him.

It wasn't that Leonard was overly cautious; the number of forgeries out there was overwhelming, and genuine antique Baccarat crystal goblets were extremely rare. He had to be fully alert to authenticate it.

If it turned out to be real, he would have made a great profit. But if it were fake, the situation wouldn't be solved with just a few thousand dollars.

"How much do you want for it?" a sweet voice interrupted him.

The young man, startled, instinctively responded, "The market price right now is much more than 700 thousand dollars. I'm in urgent need of money, so I'll sell it to you for a round number—only 700 thousand dollars."

Veronica laughed at the man's words. She walked over to Leonard, her hands behind her back, and glanced at the goblet in his hand. "Give me ten bucks, and I'll find you ten identical ones," she smirked.

The man's face fell in an instant. Staring at Veronica, he pressed his lips and then immediately shouted, "What do you mean by that?"

Veronica raised an eyebrow, smiling as she looked at him, "What do you think?"

The man, enraged, said, "Are you saying my family's heirloom is fake?"

Veronica replied, "I don't know if your family's heirloom is fake, but this goblet? A few days ago, I bought several for my dog, Bear, to drink from. Three bucks for three."

Upon hearing this, Leonard quickly set the goblet and magnifying glass down. He thought, 'How embarrassing. I've wasted so much time on a fake.'

The man pointed a trembling finger at Veronica, clearly infuriated by her. "What do you, a clueless brat, know? Have you ever seen an antique? This is an antique Baccarat crystal goblet. There are less than thirty of them left in the entire world."

Veronica nodded with a sweet smile. "So, of all the things you could fake, you chose to fake this one?"

Chapter 4 The Real Deal

Veronica's eyes sparkled like stars. Those eyes, so beautiful and without any hint of aggression, made the young man freeze. Despite having so many words on the tip of his tongue, he couldn't bring himself to speak.

"Y-You..." the man stuttered, unable to say anything else. In the end, he could only grab his fake antique and run off in embarrassment.

Leonard turned to Veronica, looking at her in awe. "Ms. Weston, you've got an incredible eye."

Veronica was the true owner of this famous antique shop. She smiled, reaching into her bag. Then she pulled out a stack of goblets wrapped carelessly in newspaper.

Leonard's eyes lit up. Every item Veronica had ever brought here was always worth a fortune. He eagerly took the package wrapped in newspaper and opened it. Inside were three familiar crystal goblets—exactly like the antique Baccarat crystal goblets the man had just mentioned.

Leonard looked at Veronica as she said, "These are antique Baccarat crystal goblets. I bought three."

The man who had left with the fake goblet would never have imagined that Veronica had the real deal in her hands—and not just one, but three of them.

Leonard came back to his senses, his eyes squinting behind his reading glasses as he grinned, clutching the three goblets like precious treasures. "I'm putting these right where everyone will see them."

But then Leonard paused midway and turned back. "Ms. Weston, I got so thrilled that I forgot to make you coffee."

Veronica grabbed an apple from the table and took a bite. The sweet flavor was delightful. She shook her head, rejecting Leonard's offer. "Don't mind me. I'll be leaving soon."

*****

At Weston Manor, Veronica's grandfather, Mason Weston, furrowed his brows as he listened to the report from the person sent to check on the hotel situation. His face, covered in wrinkles, showed his displeasure.

Mason muttered, "That dummy David knew his daughter would go home yesterday, yet he still went on a business trip to the neighboring city. What is he trying to pull? Does he think he's the only capable one in the company?"

He was furious at his second son's behavior, and the sound of his cane tapping against the floor tiles echoed in the room.

"Dad, don't get too worked up. Didn't Simon Zane say that Linda went to pick up Ronie with her two daughters today?" Victor Weston, Mason's eldest son, tried to calm his father down.

Mason's face hardened as he glared at Victor. "What do you know? I never should've named him David. I should've just named him Dummy. I had high hopes for him, but he grew up to be a total dummy."

An out-of-place laugh broke the tension, and Mason shot a sharp look at Victor.

Victor struggled to hold back his laughter. "Dad, don't glare at me. I wasn't the one laughing."

Mason snorted, "You were just about to laugh out loud."

Victor didn't know how to respond. 'Dad is so sharp-eyed. What should I do? He read my mind just like that,' he thought.

"Dad, stop picking on Victor. He's too honest for his own good." Colton Weston's voice rang out lazily as he walked in, laughing. The laugh that had just echoed in the room had come from him.

Colton was Mason's youngest son, only five years older than Victor. He was Cloudhaven's famous bachelor. He hadn't joined the family business but instead opened his own sports car club, spending most of his time on sports cars and living a carefree, laid-back life.

Mason's head throbbed the moment he saw his youngest son, who was always causing trouble. "You have the nerve to laugh? What have you been doing all day?

"Your niece came back from the village yesterday, and you didn't even bother to go see her? You let her get pushed into staying at a hotel by Linda? Is this how an uncle should behave?"

Colton answered, "Dad, I'm sorry." Admitting his mistakes was one of Colton's strengths, especially when it came to Mason. Colton knew he needed to be brave enough to own up to his faults.

As Mason grunted, Colton grinned, "Since David and Linda want Ronie to stay at a hotel, let her stay there for a few days. What's the harm?"

Mason raised an eyebrow, suspicious. "What do you mean by that?"

Colton smirked, "Linda's known for being so capable. Don't you want to see who's tougher when she faces off against Ronie?"

Mason snapped, "Don't go causing trouble. Ronie is so sweet and innocent. How could she possibly stand up to that venomous wretch?

"Hurry up and bring Ronie home. Since David doesn't care for his own daughter, let her come live here at Weston Manor and cut him off."

*****

At Royale International Hotel, Chloe had been waiting for an entire day, her fury boiling over.

If Grace hadn't been holding her arm tightly, and if Linda hadn't been constantly warning her with pointed looks, Chloe would have already started throwing a tantrum in the hotel lobby and cursing Veronica.

Chloe bellowed internally, 'How could Veronica be so ungrateful? We came all the way to the hotel to pick her up, and she's not even here? Did she run off to fool around with some random guy?'

Veronica, carrying dinner, walked into the hotel as the last rays of the setting sun lingered in the sky. She caught a glimpse of the people sitting on the sofas in the lobby but didn't even glance their way as she continued forward.

At this moment, a guest was checking in at the front desk, and the busy staff didn't notice Veronica returning. As for Linda and her two daughters sitting on the sofas, they didn't recognize the girl in the plain tracksuit as Veronica.

Before the Westons decided to bring Veronica back, Chloe and Grace had sent several of their own discarded outfits to Veronica. They claimed it was just for Veronica to wear temporarily until they could buy her new clothes when she arrived in Cloudhaven.

So, both Chloe and Grace were certain Veronica would show up wearing the clothes they no longer wanted. After all, they both believed that the clothes they had discarded were items Veronica could never afford. They thought they were being incredibly generous.

With their sense of superiority, Linda and her two daughters waited all day without seeing Veronica. Eventually, they were forced to leave the hotel in defeat.

They returned to Weston Villa just as David came back from his business trip. The moment Chloe saw her father, she rushed over to him, eager to complain and list all of Veronica's "crimes".

Linda stood by, pretending to stop Chloe from going too far, her tears welling up in false sympathy. Meanwhile, Grace did her best to appear sweet and innocent, gently comforting Linda.

David, already seen by Mason as foolish to begin with, was further swayed by the actions of his wife and two daughters. His dislike for the daughter he hadn't seen in eighteen years, a daughter who now seemed more like a stranger, grew even stronger.

He wasn't in the mood to get some rest now. Grabbing his car keys, he hurriedly left the house and headed to the hotel.

"David, wait for me," Linda called as she hurried to follow him.

Chloe and Grace exchanged a glance, both seeing in the other's eyes that the show was about to begin. They, too, followed after him.

*****

At the hotel, Veronica had just finished her shower when she heard loud knocking on her room door. She smiled slightly, thinking back to the three people she had seen in the lobby downstairs. It was clear her father had arrived.

"Coming. Who are you looking for?" Veronica called out.

Chapter 5 Drama

As soon as Veronica cracked the door open, it was shoved forcefully from the outside. She narrowed her eyes, subtly stepping back to wedge herself against the door, blocking it from opening any further. She thought, 'Looks like my dad's got a bad temper.'

Before Veronica could get a good look at who was on the other side, David's voice came roaring from the hallway, laced with fury. "Veronica, you brat. How could you do this?

"You actually let your stepmother wait for you at the hotel lobby all day. Apologize to her now."

David's shouting echoed down the entire hallway, and Veronica furrowed her brows, lifting her gaze to meet the enraged David in front of her.

"David, don't be like this. I'm fine. Veronica is still young and just got back from the village. She doesn't know better. Don't scare her," Linda said anxiously, pulling at David. But the lack of force in her action was only something Linda knew.

Veronica almost laughed out loud. Her expression remained indifferent as she casually leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed, as though it were none of her business.

David raised his hand, swinging it toward her. "You ungrateful brat, I'll teach you a lesson."

"David, no." Linda tried to block him, but just as she did, she was yanked from behind, her blouse grabbed with enough force to pin her in place.

She was struck hard across the face, dazed, her ears ringing with the impact. She stood there in shock for a moment.

Linda thought, 'Who am I? Where am I? Why am I the one who got slapped?'

A flash of realization went through her mind, and she thought, 'Right, I wasn't planning to actually stop David, but Veronica must've grabbed my blouse from behind, forcing me to take that slap.'

"Vero—" Linda turned her face, her eyes briefly filled with rage.

Veronica looked up and smiled, "Thanks, Linda."

Linda held her swollen cheek, the words stuck in her throat and unable to come out. David, seeing his wife's injured face, felt terribly sorry. He lowered his head, gently comforting Linda, but still shot a glare at Veronica, demanding that she apologize to Linda.

Veronica asked, her eyes sparkling with confusion. "Apologize? Wasn't it you who hit her? I may be your daughter, but why should I take responsibility for your mistake?"

David, fuming, retorted, "You're still talking back? If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have accidentally hit Linda."

Veronica replied, "Who knows? Maybe you think Linda is getting old, and now you have your sights set elsewhere." She paused, her gaze sweeping over them before the corners of her lips curled into a wider smile.

Leaving the words unfinished stung more than if she had said them all, especially since Linda was the type to overthink things.

After Veronica's subtle hint, Linda began to reflect on David's actions over the past few days, growing increasingly suspicious and convinced that there was something more to David's behavior.

"David—" Linda began.

David panicked. "Linda, don't listen to Veronica's nonsense. Don't you know how much I love you?" he hurriedly tried to explain. But his rushed explanation only made Veronica find it all the more amusing.

Veronica couldn't understand why her mother, Claudia Weston, who was so outstanding, had ever fallen for David.

Veronica thought, 'It just proves that even the best of people can make mistakes. At least for me, I can't imagine how Mom could have possibly fallen for Dad if she had been thinking clearly.

'And maybe Dad made the same mistake, falling for that conniving tramp Linda.'

Linda, still holding her cheek, sobbed and ran off. David didn't even bother to keep yelling at Veronica and rushed after Linda, saying, "Linda, wait. I can explain, Linda."

This couple, whose combined age was pushing a hundred, was still putting on a soap-opera scene right there in the hotel hallway. Veronica just found it unbearably annoying. But thankfully, they walked away, and the place was quiet again.

Bored, Veronica yawned before turning to head back to her room.

"Stop right there. Did I say you could leave?" a sharp voice called out from behind her.

Veronica turned back slowly, glancing at the partially open doors to a few rooms. A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "What? Should I bow to you before I leave?"

Chloe stood with her hands on her hips, radiating arrogance. "Hell yeah. If you want to come back to our family, you'll have to kneel and beg me."

"What? Go back to your family? Beg you?" Veronica shot a glance at Chloe. "I think you're mistaken."

Chloe was confused. Grace gently tugged at Chloe's arm and spoke softly, "Veronica, Chloe doesn't mean any harm. She's just not used to suddenly having an older sister."

Veronica nodded, acknowledging that she understood.

Grace continued, "Thank you—"

"Hey, Veronica, what did you mean by that? What did I misunderstand?" Chloe interrupted Grace without hesitation.

Grace's face fell, but she didn't act as rudely as Chloe. She could only stand to the side, looking at Veronica with tear-filled eyes.

Grace hadn't expected Veronica to completely ignore her. Veronica looked at Chloe with a smile and said each word clearly, "Let me correct you on two things. First, my mother is David's first wife. Second, you're the ones who begged me to come back."

She paused and then continued in a sweet voice, "So, right now, it's you who should beg me to go back." With that, Veronica turned decisively and slammed the door shut.

Chloe, almost knocked in the face by the door, was furious and raised her hand, ready to rush in. Grace grabbed her sleeve, softly urging, "Chloe, stop. People are watching."

Though Grace comforted Chloe, she was secretly disgusted with her. Grace thought, 'If it weren't for the sake of the Weston girls' reputation, I wouldn't bother stopping this idiot.'

After some convincing, Grace finally managed to get Chloe to leave. But from the door to the elevator, Grace's smile was barely holding up, her discomfort growing with every set of eyes that lingered on them.

In the end, the Weston family's attempt to cause trouble at the hotel ended with them leaving in defeat.

*****

The next day, at Weston Manor, Mason heard about what had happened. Furious, he slammed his cup onto the floor. "That idiot David actually dared to lay a hand on Veronica. What an ungrateful brat."

Sitting beside him, Colton spoke softly, "Dad, don't get so worked up. Didn't you hear what Simon said? My niece wasn't the one being bullied. It was Linda who got slapped by David."

Mason scoffed, "Good. Linda deserved it."

Colton's lips twitched. "Dad, tone it down a little. Linda is still your daughter-in-law."

Mason shot Colton a sharp glance. "She's David's wife. I've never acknowledged her as my daughter-in-law."

Mason could never bring himself to accept Linda, the woman who had slept with her best friend's husband while her friend was gravely ill. He would rather see her gone than recognize her as part of the family.

Colton was used to his father's attitude and wasn't as agitated. Instead, Colton was concerned about something else. "Dad, are you really planning on letting Ronie marry into the Harrington family in Northvare?"

Chapter 6 Still Young

On the north and south sides of Cloudhaven, there were two cities whose GDP far surpassed that of many foreign countries—Southford and Northvare.

It was well known that the Brown family was in Southford, and the Harrington family was from Northvare. The Harrington family Colton had mentioned was the wealthiest in Northvare, powerful and influential beyond measure.

The head of the Harrington family, Stephen Harrington, had a good relationship with Mason. Years ago, they had even promised a marriage between their grandchildren.

On the Weston side, the one to fulfill the engagement was Mason's eldest granddaughter, Veronica. On the Harrington side, the one to fulfill the engagement was Stephen's eldest grandson, Alexander Harrington.

Mason gave a grunt. "Aren't you on good terms with Stephen's son, Raymond? Ask Raymond if Alexander is good enough for Ronie."

Colton nodded. "Alright. I got it. I'll ask him when I get the chance."

Mason gave a satisfied nod. "That's more like it." Then he added, "By the way, go remind Dummy. If he can't take good care of Ronie, we'll have no choice but to bring her back to Weston Manor."

For a moment, Colton didn't realize what Mason meant, thinking, 'Dummy? Who's that?'

Mason raised a brow. "What?"

Colton blinked, then suddenly burst out laughing, "Dad, who gives their own son a nickname like that?" He thought, 'Why is Dad calling Mason a dummy?' He couldn't hide the grin spreading across his face.

Mason lifted his cane as if to strike, and only then did Colton slip away with a laugh.

*****

At Harrington Manor in Northvare, Raymond had just returned home when Stephen called him into the study.

Stephen was over seventy years old, but he was still vigorous and strong, looking much younger than his actual age. Right now, he was seated in the armchair behind his desk, his sharp gaze fixed on his youngest son standing before him.

"Did you suffer a setback in Cloudhaven?" Stephen asked.

Stephen knew his son better than anyone. With a single glance, Stephen saw that something was off with Raymond.

Raymond's tone was calm. "Nothing serious. Just a minor injury."

Stephen snorted, clearly not believing him. He shot Raymond a sharp look. When he saw the cool, detached face with almost no trace of emotion, Stephen knew there was no point trying to pry further.

"Alright. Since you're hurt, let Sophia Brown take a look. She's going to be your fiancée anyway," Stephen spoke.

Raymond's expression stayed the same, though his brows shifted slightly as he looked up, his gaze sharp. "I already have a fiancée."

"What?" Stephen nearly choked on his coffee. He hurriedly set down the cup, glaring at Raymond, who had made him lose his composure. "You already have a fiancée? And it's not Sophia?"

Raymond said, "No."

After Veronica left yesterday, Raymond had thought carefully about her request. Although he felt that offering himself was going too far and that she was still too young, a promise was a promise, and he would not go back on his word.

Raymond thought, 'As for her age, it doesn't matter if she's still a little too young. I can wait.'

Stephen questioned, "Who is it? Is she blind or something? She actually fell for a brat like you? Tell me. I'll have her parents take her to get her eyes treated. If they treat her early enough, maybe they can still fix her."

Raymond ignored Stephen's words. He only heard one word—eyes. He suddenly thought of Veronica's bright eyes when she smiled. When she had just woken up, she was like a cat, laid-back and chill. When she was being sly, she was like a mischievous fox.

The corners of Raymond's tightly pressed lips curved into a faint smile before he even realized it.

Stephen choked and almost spat his coffee onto the floor. "Oh my goodness, a stiff, stubborn dude like you actually smiled? Unbelievable."

Raymond was speechless. He ignored Stephen's fussing and left Harrington Manor to return to his apartment. He felt that before he tied the knot with Veronica, he had to first investigate her background thoroughly.

*****

In Cloudhaven, Veronica had no idea that a single joke she made had been taken seriously by Raymond. These past few days, she was busy dealing with the herbs she still had on hand.

After selling the last piece of lunar mandrake, she clapped the dust off her hands and stood up from her stall at the herb market. She straightened her slightly wrinkled tracksuit and headed toward the biggest gemstone market in Cloudhaven.

The two markets were not far apart. After walking just a short distance, she arrived at the gemstone market.

Veronica first bought a plate of tacos from a street food stand and ate while listening to people around her gossip. Once she had heard enough, she tossed the disposable container and walked toward her destination.

She had just overheard that today there happened to be a Cloudhaven Gem & Mineral Show hosted by Harrington Fine Jewelers, and there were dozens of raw stones being sold in the show. Veronica was not about to miss such a big event.

Harrington Fine Jewelers was packed. The spacious first-floor hall was crowded with people who had come to see the stones. At the moment, they were gathered around a table, discussing the irregularly shaped stone sitting on it.

Most of the people attending the Cloudhaven Gem & Mineral Show were those with considerable assets of their own, each with their own tricks for evaluating raw stones.

Aside from a few who joined with dreams of striking it rich overnight, the others tended to be more cautious.

Just like now, the raw stone on the table had already been judged from all angles and most agreed that the emerald inside was of good quality before someone finally stepped forward to buy it.

Before entering the hall, Veronica had already pulled on a baseball cap, found a quiet corner away from the crowd, and sat down to observe silently.

"Hey, man, why aren't you joining in?" A voice that sounded a little familiar rang in her ear as someone nudged her elbow.

At the moment, Veronica's long hair was tucked completely under her cap, and she was wearing a loose gray tracksuit that showed no curves at all. So, it was no surprise she was mistaken for a boy.

She lifted her head and cast a half-smile at the man not far from her.

"Damn." Douglas Dell was startled when Veronica suddenly looked up. He pointed at her in shock. "A-aren't you..."

Douglas thought, 'Isn't this the brat who ruined my business a few days ago? Could it be she's here again to mess with me? I finally managed to find a job helping draw in customers here. I can't let her ruin it again.'

He turned to slip away, but Veronica said, "Wait."

Douglas was speechless. He pretended not to hear and kept walking.

Veronica's unhurried voice rang out. "I'm curious how you managed to talk up a piece of inferior stone like it was something special."

"Mind your—" Douglas started to snap back, but halfway through, he sensed something was off. He cut himself short and looked at Veronica suspiciously. "How do you know that was an inferior stone?"

Veronica smiled, "You still haven't answered my question."

Douglas's expression hardened, and he let out a cold snort. "What, do I have to answer your question? Who do you think you are? I haven't even settled the score with you for wrecking my business last time."

"Look over there." Veronica pointed toward a pile of raw stones. "In return, I'll give you the second-best piece in the whole place."

Without waiting for Douglas to agree, she stood up and walked straight to where Harrington Fine Jewelers had stacked the stones. Under the staff's watchful eyes, she picked out two pieces that, from any perspective, would never yield a top-grade gem.

Douglas muttered, "Are you kidding me?"

Chapter 7 Emerald

Veronica smiled, patted the raw stone with her hand, and pointed at the smaller piece. "That one's yours," she said to Douglas.

Douglas hadn't expected Veronica to actually give him a piece. He might have been poor and made his living through scams, but he still had principles—he never cheated the old, the weak, or the disabled.

To him, Veronica looked so weak and fragile that it seemed like he could hurt her easily.

"I'm not taking advantage of you," Douglas said. "This stone is clearly worthless. Even if there's something inside, it'll be the lowest quality."

"Wanna bet?" Veronica asked.

Douglas snorted, "Fine. Let's bet. If there's really a good emerald inside, then I'll do whatever you say."

He had been hanging around these places for years and knew that only few people could actually get good emeralds from raw stones. Those people were all seasoned gemstone enthusiasts, and Douglas figured young people like Veronica had no place among them.

So, Douglas absolutely did not believe that Veronica could casually point at a stone and still find a high-quality gem inside without careful study.

Veronica didn't care about his doubts at all. Their conversation also caught the attention of the crowd around them. Some kind-looking elderly people, seeing her choice, tried to persuade her to be cautious.

After all, the raw stones cost money, and in their eyes, there was no need for her to waste money on two worthless rocks.

They all spoke at once to dissuade her, but Veronica only replied with a faint smile. She lifted her gaze to the staff and asked one of them to cut open the smaller stone.

"Are you sure, miss?" The staff member from Harrington Fine Jewelers looked hesitant.

Veronica nodded.

The staff said, "Then—"

"Wait." Douglas tugged on Veronica's sleeve and lowered his voice by her ear. "You wanna know the truth? I'll tell you later. No need to waste your money."

Veronica shook her head with a smile, walked over, and took the tool from the staff. She made a small cut in the stone on the table.

From that tiny opening came a glimmer of green as clear as lake water, its vivid emerald color so bright it looked like it was about to spill out.

Everyone present, except for Veronica, was stunned. They hadn't expected that such an unremarkable stone would actually contain an emerald of such high quality.

Compared to this emerald, the ones they had opened before looked so inferior that they could hardly bear to look at them.

In the private room on the second floor, Stephen, who had seen the whole scene from above, smiled, "This girl is really something else." He thought, 'This trip to Cloudhaven is worth it after all.'

Downstairs, Douglas rubbed his eyes in disbelief at the raw stone on the table, afraid that he was seeing things.

While everyone was still dazed in shock, Veronica reminded the staff to send the raw stone that belonged to her to her village for Nathaniel.

After paying and stating the price, Veronica left Harrington Fine Jewelers. By the time the others came to their senses and wanted to look for her, she was already gone.

Douglas turned to chase after her, but the staff stopped him, asking how he wanted to handle the emerald. Veronica had kept her word and truly given the emerald to him.

"Give it to me," Douglas said. He grabbed the gem, ignored the crowd of people who tried to buy it, and rushed out. At the bus stop, he caught up to Veronica. "Hey, wait a second," he said.

Veronica glanced at him. "What is it now?"

"Sorry. I misunderstood you before."

"As long as you remember what you promised, that's enough."

"Don't worry. From today on, you're my boss."

Veronica nodded, accepting it without hesitation.

Douglas asked cautiously, "Boss, could you give me your contact? WhatsApp or Discord works too."

"I'll give you my phone number. If I use Discord, my phone lags too much," Veronica replied.

"What kind of phone would—" Douglas's words stopped short when Veronica pulled out her phone.

He actually saw that the beautiful girl who had just spent money like it was nothing was holding a clunky old keypad phone that had been outdated for over ten years.

Douglas wondered if he was dreaming. "Sorry to ask, but are you really Gen Z?"

Veronica raised a brow. "Yeah. What?"

From the greenery not far away, a telephoto lens captured the scene of Veronica talking to Douglas. The photos were uploaded to the internet and sent to Chloe's phone.

At the bus stop, the image of Veronica in her dull outfit and holding that outdated phone was enough to amuse Chloe.

Chloe thought, 'See? Without the Weston family's care, Veronica is nothing but a complete country bumpkin. So what if she's pretty? She's still a rustic, a pathetic village girl.'

Chloe shared the photo that made her so happy in the family group chat with the four of them, pretending she had just happened to run into Veronica and taken it by chance.

The picture gave her, Linda, and Grace a good laugh, but David was furious.

"Look at this. What kind of clothes is Veronica even wearing? Can't she afford any decent outfit?" David raged in his office.

He was accusing Veronica of dressing so poorly that it embarrassed him as the CEO of Weston Corporation, completely forgetting that in the past eighteen years, he had never given Veronica a single penny.

In the office right next door, Linda heard the commotion and immediately came over. She softly coaxed David not to get angry while subtly complaining about Veronica. By the end, David's anger had subsided, but his opinion of his daughter had sunk even lower.

David thought, 'Veronica actually thinks she can compare with Chloe and Grace? She's an embarrassment.'

At the same time, David decided he had to bring Veronica back home immediately and keep her under strict control.

*****

Back at the hotel, Veronica had no idea Chloe had someone secretly taking pictures of her, nor did she know that the entire Weston family could spin so much drama out of a single photo.

If she had known, she would definitely have suggested they go be actors.

After taking a shower, Veronica left the bathroom and picked up her outdated phone to call Nathaniel, who was far away in the village.

Aside from telling him she had sent a raw gemstone back, most of the conversation was Nathaniel asking how things were with the Weston family.

Veronica replied honestly, "I was just about to head over."

Nathaniel frowned, sensing something was off. "You've been there for several days already, and you still haven't gone to Weston Villa?"

Veronica gave an indifferent hum and answered lazily, "My stepmother is set on shutting me out, so of course I'll go along with it."

She thought, 'I should thank Linda for trying to put me in my place. If not for her, I wouldn't be this free right now.'

After listening to Nathaniel give her a few more reminders, Veronica responded with agreement before finally hanging up the call.

She pulled the blanket over herself and closed her eyes, completely indifferent to Nathaniel's suggestion that she should try softening her stance with David.

Veronica thought, 'Nothing matters more than sleep. As for everything else, I'll deal with it when I wake up.'

But things rarely went the way she wanted. Planning to sleep until the next morning, Veronica was awakened in the middle of the night by a loud pounding at her door.